Radiator-casing.



W. M. FULTON.

RADIATOR CASING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9 I915.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEEF W. M. FULTON. RADIATOR CASING.

APPLICATION man was. 1915.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918' w. M. FULION.

RADIATOR CASING. APPLICATION men AUG. 9.19m.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

Warns rarnn'r opiates.

WESTQF Eli. FULTON, 0F KNOXVILLE, 'lElNNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO THE FULTON COMPANY, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

RADIATORGASI1\TG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

(lriginal application filed April 20, 1914, Serial No. 833,238. Divided and this application filed August 9,

To (:ZZ whom may concern:

Be it known that ii Was'ron M. FUL'MN,

tions. This has been a serious limitation to their use. The cost of fitting casings to such radiators often prohibits their installation and, when a casing is selected large enough to lit the longest radiator in a building, its use on smaller sizes of radiators presents an unsightly appearance and occupies space in the room needed for other purposes.

My invention overcomes the above objections and resides in providing a radiator casing adapted to be assembled by addition of heat lagged unit sections to fit any length of radiator, and in providing means for adjusting the length of the assembled casing and in other featuresdescribed herein and pointed out in the claims.

The sections may be made in any size or configuration to fit any form of radiator.

Each'section or unit preferably is made to conform to that of the radiator section to be housed and the units may be, and preferably are, made in standard sizes corresponding to the standard sized radiator sections now on the market. Jackets of different lengths or sizes may thus be assembled from a stock of standardized units to fit any radiator and, if desired; the units in their knocked down form may be shipped to the place of use and there assembled. The casing sections are preferably made of sheet metal, such as sheet iron or zinc, the walls of which are double.

with an air space between them adapted to retard the transfer of heat across the casing wall. Each section is provided with means, such as interlocking seams. for readily securing it to its neighbor. To give a certain degree of longitudinal adjustability to the casing to compensate for differences in thick- Scrial No. 44,598.

ness of radiator sections, I provide connec tions between the sections and parts carried thereby which permit of slight play between the sections. For this purpose I preferably use lapped joint seams and tie the sections together by a tie rod provided with adjusting nuts at their ends.

With a view of utilizing the radiant heat given out by the radiator inclosed in the casing, I preferably coat the inside of the casing walls facing the radiator with a good heat-absorbing material. Of the several materials known to possess this quality, I prefer to use lamp-black because of its cheapness and efficiency, though I do not care to be limited to lamp-black,.but may use any suitable material for this purpose.

I also provide the casing with a sectional hood preferably opening toward one sideof the radiator casing and adapted to be built up by addition of units corresponding to the units of the casing and to fit the top of the casing and house the damper-operating means. The hood sections'arc preferably made with a single wall instead of with dou-' ing, thus giving play to the joints under contraction and expansion of the sections due to variations of temperature.

The dampers are connected through an operating rod and may be manipulated by hand or by automatic means, such as by a thermostat housed in a casing, so as to secure a more complete heat insulation of the thermostat from the radiator, as will be later explained.

The thermostat casing herein shown and described forms the subject-matter of my copending application Serial No. 833,238, filed April 520, 1914. wherein the same is claimed. and of which this application is a division. 1

In order that the invention may be more readilyunderstood, reference had to the accompanying drawings which show, by

- embodying my improvements way of example, one mechanicalexpression of the invention, but such drawings are designed merely as illustrations to assist the description and not as defining the limits of the invention.

In the drawings 1- I Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in broken section and with certain parts removed, showing a sectional radiator casing Fig. 2is a sectional view showing a per:

- tion of the double wall of the casing;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the casing with the closures for the top and bottom of the double wall of a section;

Fig". 12 is a detail elevational view of a damper with its adjustable operating means; and

Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view of the adjustable clamping means.

I Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body portion of the radiator ca sing comprisingaplurality of built-up hollow sec-. tions 2, 2, 3, 3, 4c, 4 (Fig. 3), constituting the side walls, and sections 5' and 6 constituting the end walls. The hollow wallsare preferably made of sheet metal. Each section is formed in two pieces stamped in suitable shape to form, when assembled, a chamber havin an outer wall 7 and an inner wall 8 (Fig. 2 The vertical meeting ed cs of the sheets are curledor otherw se shaped so as to form interlocking jointv members 9, 10 which permit the sections to be united by slipping the interlocking edges one within the other. To's'trengthen the meeting edges, rivets ma be used, provided they are so located that t 1e heads or the rivets do not interfere with the sliding action in joining the sections. The top of each chamber sec: tion is provided with a closui 11, Fig. 10, and consists of a strip of sheet metal which is cut to the shape of the top opening of the chamber to be fitted and is slightly larger than the opening to enable the edges of the closure or cap tobe crimped or otherwise secured to the corresponding ed es of the walls. The bottom of the charm r is also provided with a closure 12 which mafi be in all respects like that described above. To the bottom closure ll preferably secure i ncense or form thereon a tab 18 which extends downwardly and has an'opening to receive a tie rod 14, as indicated in Fig. 2-. This tie rod adds rigidity to the casing wall and enables a certain amount of adjustment of the length of the casing. The unit sections ma take on various forms or shapes, but 1 prefer to give them the general outline shown, wherein each pair of oppositely disposed unit sections generally conforms to and incloses a section oi ,the radiator. The several .units, when assembled, constitute a wall having a plurality; of dead air spaces, or the several spaces may communicate with each ether through openings in the narrow walls 15. I prefer, however, the form shown with separate chambers. V

. The end sections 5, 6 of the sectional casing comprise, as stated above, two sections 2, 2 and 4, i united by hollow sections 5, 6, respectively. The two end sections may be made one with the side sections, or the end sections 5, 6 may be made separately sea the purpose of making connection betwee a riser of the supply pipe. as in ll,

the radiator within the casin an openin may be made in the wall 5 an a nipple i6 inserted to receive the connection. The up posite end wall is similar in con lotion to the wall 5, except that, in the event anther mosensitive device is used .such as shown and described in my U. S. Patent No. 998,167

dated July 25, 1911, a draft flue Iii? is introduced through the wall 6 and communicates with a housing 18, preferably supported Ly a bracket 19 on the wall. 6. The housin on the side next the radiator easing has iii-m to leave an air space between the two,

low wall 20 which is set away from v al purpose of which is to reduce interchange of heat between the radiator casing and the housing 18 which contains a thermostat having, operating connections through a sys tem of lovers 22, 22', 22 and link with a damper-operating rod 24. as indicated in Fig. 5, the housing preferably has one wall perforated to permit the air from the room to pass into the housing and circulate around the thermosta. and then out through flue 17, as explained in my above-- named patent. The dead air space in. wall 20 and the space b tween the housing 18 and the radiator casing cfiectively protect the i thermostat from the influence of heat from the radiator and enables the thermostat to respond to the condition of the temperature in the room, thereby eliminating the disturbing eiiect'of the radiator.

In order that sectional casings built up of varying numbers of sections may each be provided with means for regulating the flow of air, I provide a special arrai'igeinent of dampers which are assembled bv addition and be joined to their side members by I curled slip oints, as explained a cove. he

supports. A description of one'will sutfice for all. Referring to Figs, 3, 6 and 7, 25 is adamper provided with trunnions 26 which are supported in bearings 27 formed -on v plates 28. Each plate 28 which is of the tion by a rivet 30 or like means.

general outline of the top of a unit section rests on the top of the section and is secured thereto by means of an angular casting 29 made fast to the inner wall of the see- In this casting is tapped a threaded opening which is adapted to register with a hole 31 in damper-supporting plate 28 and'a screw is introduced to fasten the parts together. The right and left-hand edges of plates 28 are provided with lips or projections 32 which make lapped joints with neighboring plates on each side and thereby form joints which permit more or less expansion and contraction between the plates, without opening the 'oints. The dampers 25 also are adapted to reak joints with each other and, for this purpose, present at their meeting edges overlapping portions as indicated at 33 in Figs. 7 and 12. This construction permits considerable lengthwise adjustment of the dampers without opening the joints between them and provides for adjustment for small irregularities in the size of the radiator sections.

The end damper-supporting plate 28 which is located at one end of the radiator casing, the left-hanrbend as shown in Fig. 3, is preferably made integral with the top plate 33 which rests on the top of the end wall 5. At the opposite end of the radiator casing the top of the end section is closed by a plain plate '34 through which the draft flue 17 passes.

For the purpose of operating the dampers, each damper plate is provided with an arm 35 located in the line of the turning axis of the damper. This arm may be cast integral with the damper plate or otherwise made fast thereto. To the end of each arm 35 is pivoted one end of a link 37 having, by preference, an adjustable connection 38 which may be of any suitable form, such as shown in Fig; 13, wherein the connection consistsof a split sleeve 39 for slipping over the damper rod 24 and is providedon one side with jaws adapted to be clamped down on the rod by means of'a clamp-screw 40. The opposite side ofthe sleeve has a stud 41- for receiving the end of link 37. A cotterpin 42 engages the stud to hold the link in place. 1

I preferably provide the sectional casing with a hood and to enable the hood to fit casings of different lengths, I make it in sections. By addition of such units, the hood may be made of any desired length correspending to the casing which it is to fit. In

Figs. 5 and 9, I have shown a hood of this character consisting of a plurality of curved sections or units 44 of a single thickness of sheet metal and a plurality of vertical sections 45 corresponding in number and width with the curved sections] These sections may be united in various ways, but the mannor I prefer is to crimp the edges of each piece in such manner that, the crimped edge of one piece may bdslipped into the crimp on the companion piece to lock the pieces together. In Fig. 8 is shown a curved section ha eing its left-hand edge provided with a crimp 46 to receive the right-hand edge of its left-hand neighbor which is provided with an extended edge terminating in a crimped portion like that at 47 on section 44. The upright sections 45 are similarly provided with crimped edges, Fig. 9, and are united to each other in a like manner. Where the upper ends of the upright sections 45 meet the front ends of curved sections 14, the ends are cut at an angle of 45 and the edges united by the well-known method of curling.

The front face of the hood is perforated to permit the discharge of heated toward the front of the radiator and away from the wall of the room where the radiator is usually located. The purpose of thehood being to deflect the heated air; and house the dampers and their operating means, double walls are unnecessar lVith a view of enabling the position of the concealed dampers, whether opened or closed, to be known at any time, I have provided damper position-indicating means.

-On top of the housing 18 for the thermostat, I have located a small hood 48 having in itsthe casing off the flooij although the casing may rest on the floor and suitable openin s in the walls provided, through which air mayhave access to'the interior. 52 is a slotted opening in the end wall for receiving a pipe connection to the radiator.

I preferably coat the inner walls of the casing with a material capable of absorbing radiant heat to facilitate the radiator in its function of heating and for this purpose I may, and preferably do, use lamp-black mixed in a suitable oil, suchas linseed oil,

' and with or without the addition of a gum dissolved in a volatile solvent. The composition na ies with annealed allowed to dry to a, dead finish.

The assembling and operation of the device will be readily understood from the preceding descr1pt1on: Havmg decided on the number ofcasing sections required for a given radiator, the sectionsmayvbe assen1- bled at the factory or may be shipped in knocked down condition to the place of use. In general, the assembling may be as follows:-Tho Walls of the casing are set up around the radiator by slipping the crimped edge of one unit section into the edge of its companion, as explained. The angle castlugs 29 are secured in place and the plates 28 with their dampers are fastened to the top, walls by screws passing through the plates and entering threaded openings in the castings Q5). The damper rod 24 is inserted through the adjustable damper connections 38 and the connections are clamped in proper position by screws 40, and the links 3'? secured to the damper arms and their connecting members. 38. The damper rod is now connected to the positioirindicating hand through link 23. The rods lat are slipped through the openings in tabs 13 which depend from the bottom closures 12 and held in place by nuts on the ends of the rods. The sections of the hood are coupled together as explained and placed in position over the casing and may merely rest thereon or be made fast thereto. In cases Where the radiator is connected to a riser, the end wall of the casing will be provided with an openingto receive such connection. Any slight irregularity in the thickness of the radiator" sections can be compensatedgtor in assemblingthe sections by adjusting the nuts on the tie rods which will act on the yielding joints n Teen the sections. Moreover, when the secmns are made of sheet metal, the sections themselves will flex to a limited de gree under the compressive action of the tie rod and nuts, thus further contributing'to the adjustment of the length of the casing as a whole. The peculiar arrangement of the dampcr-suppm-ting plates and their dampers permits of the nccessar3 adjustment in the length of the casingto meet any ordinary *ariation due to irregularities of the radiatorsections and permits 0t expansion and contraction in the casing Walls. The parts having been assembled and secured together in position over the radiator and the thermostat properly adjusted to mainl'l .n the d red temperature, air heated by the radiator sections ascends through the casing past the dampers and is discharged through the perforated Walls of the hood, Owing to the dead air spaces in the Walls of the casing, little heat from the radiator passes through the Walls/st casing. The inner isvalls of the casing are therefore maintainedat an elevated temperature and thereneaaeeo by become more eilicient as sources of heat for raising the temperature of the air passing through the casing This efficiency is further increased by the provision of the heat absorbing coating which is used on the inner Walls of the casing. The heat radiated from the surfaces of the radiator sections, in the form of so-called dark heat rays, passes through the air Without appreciable efi'ect,

but on reaching'the blackened surface causes of this Wall so as to form an air circulating space between the two casings.

What is claimed is 1. A radiator casing composed of built-up hollow sections, dampers each adapted to be mounted on a pair of oppositely disposed sections, and means for operating said dampers from the outside or said (lflSlIW'.

2. A. radiator casing composed of builtup sections, damper-supporting plates on said sections, and dampers mounted on said,

plates, said plates and dampers having edges overlapping to form joints permitting longitudinal variations in the length of the cats ing without opening the said joints.

3, A sectional radiator casing comprising a plurality or built-up sections having hollow Walls closed at top and bottom, and a tie rod securing said sections together.

4;. Err-adiator casin walls composed of builifi-nphollow compressible sections, connections between said sections, and means for compressing the as sembled sections to adjust the length of the radiator casing to the radiator.

A radiator casing llavingeide Wells composed of hollow flexible sections, connections between said sections, and means for compressing said sections to adjust the length of the casing to the radiator.

6. A. radiator casing having side walls composed of built-up hollow sections, said sections having yielding connections with each other and conforming in outline to the sections of the radiator to form a yielding zig-zagwall, and a tie rod for making ad justmcnt of the casing for irregularities length in standard radiator sections.

7 A radiator casing ilt up of a plnrality or connected sections, said sections having double, spaced Walls providing Illi" closed dead-air spaces.

8. A. radiator casing built "3 blaze having double side rality of interlocked flexible sections, said sections having double spaced walls providing inclosed dead-air spaces.

9. A radiator casing rality of connected sections and having a hood built up of a plurality of connected sections, said first-mentioned sections having double, spaced Walls providing inclosed dead-air spaces.

10. A radiator casing built up of hollow sections, dampers mounted on posed sections, a damper-operating rod, and adjustable connections intermediate the dampers and said rod.

11. A radiator casing built up of hollow sections, and dampers each mounted on op-1 positely disposed sections, said dampers built up of a plulength of the casing without oppositely disoverlapping to form joints permitting variation in the length of the casing Without opening said joints.

12. A radiator casing built up of hollow sections, damper-supporting plates'on said section provided with overlapping edges to form joints permitting variation in the opening said joints, and dampers supported by said plates.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. WESTON M. FULTON.

Witnesses:

' P. J. HOLBROOK,

I. A. MARTIN. 

